Chemistry Basics—Matter and Measurement

Flashcards covering the vocabulary from the Chemistry Basics—Matter and Measurement lecture.

Matter

Anything that takes up space and that weighs something

Pure substance

Matter that is made up of only one type of substance and can be represented with one chemical formula or symbol.

Element

The simplest type of matter because it is made up of only one type of atom.

Atom

The smallest unit of matter that keeps its unique characteristics.

Compound

A pure substance made of two or more elements chemically joined together.

Mixture

A combination of two or more substances.

Homogeneous mixture

A mixture whose composition is the same throughout.

Heterogeneous mixture

A mixture whose composition is not uniform but varies throughout.

Periodic table of the elements

A listing of all the elements on earth.

Chemical symbol

Represent the name of each element. Some symbols are derived from Latin such as Na for sodium (natrium) and Au for gold (aurum).

Group

A vertical column of elements with similar chemical behaviors.

Period

A horizontal row in the periodic table.

Macronutrients

Elements needed in quantities greater than 100 milligram per day. They include sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and chlorine.

Micronutrients

Elements needed in quantities less than 100 milligram per day. They include iodine, fluorine, iron, zinc, and other elements.

Physical Change

A change in the state of matter. The form of the matter is changed, but its identity remains the same.

Chemical Change

Results in a change in the chemical identity of a substance. When a substance undergoes such a change, it is referred to as a chemical reaction.

Chemical equation

Shows what happens to the substances involved in a chemical reaction.

Law of conservation of mass

Illustration that matter only changes form, so the amount of matter on the reactant side and product side must be equal.

Significant figures

The digits known with certainty plus one estimated digit in any measurement.

Exact Numbers

Numbers used in defined conversion factors and counted items with an infinite number of significant figures.

Scientific Notation

C is the coefficient and is a number that is at least 1 but less than 10, and n is the exponent telling us the number of tens places that apply.

Système International d’Unités (SI)

For measurements to be easily compared, a defined measurement system is needed; The standard unit for mass is the kilogram (kg), volume is the liter (L) and length is the meter (m).

Equivalent units

Quantities that can be related to each other by an equal sign

Dimensional analysis

Converting units to an equivalent unit

Percent

Means the part out of 100 total, or hundredths.

Mass

A measure of the amount of material in an object.

Volume

A three-dimensional measure of the space occupied by matter.

Density (d)

A comparison (also called a ratio) of a substance’s mass (m) to its volume (V).

Specific gravity (sp gr)

The ratio of the density of a sample to the density of water; unitless because it is a ratio of 2 densities that have the same unit.

Temperature

A measurement of the hotness or coldness of substance.

Absolute, or Kelvin, scale

Scale where the temperature unit is the Kelvin; the Sl unit for temperature.

Hyperthermia

Condition where human body temperature rises above 40.0 °Celsius (104 °Fahrenheit).

Hypothermia

Condition where body temperature drops below 35 °Celsius (95 °Fahrenheit)

Energy

The capacity to do work or supply heat.

Potential energy

Stored energy

Kinetic energy

The energy of motion

Law of conservation of energy

Energy takes various forms, but it is never created or destroyed.

Heat

Kinetic energy flowing from a warmer body to a colder one; a form of energy.

Specific heat capacity, or specific heat

The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of that substance by 1 °Celsius

State of matter

The physical form in which the matter exists

Accuracy

Taking measurements close to the actual or true value.

Precision

Taking measurements are similar in value, but may not be close to the actual value.

Drop Units

IV delivery of medications which is often measured in drops per milliliter, abbreviated gtt/mL.